Folding table



March 1933- c. N. ALLERDING 1,901, 7

FOLDING TABLE Filed March 5. 1930 5 SheetsSheet l March 21, 1933. c. N. ALLERDING FOLDING TABLE Filed March 5, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 21, 1933. c. N ALLERDING FOLDING TABLE Filed March 5, 1930 3 SheetsSheet 3 Patented Mar. 21, 1933 PATENT oFFrcE eLE'rUs' N. ALLERDING, or mansions, ILnI'NoIs FOLDING TABLE Application filed March 5, 1930. Serial No. 433,275.

This invention relates to a folding table of the type often referred to as bridge tables and has forits object to produce a table of this type of a simple, sturdy and improved construction in the details and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed. In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view showing the table in folded condition; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the table top with the legs and attaching construction omitted; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the construction of thetop and flange or rim together with one of the legs and its attaching and bracing means in unfolded condition; Fig. 4 is a top plan view; Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 55 of Fig. 7 Fig. 6 is a section on line 66 of Fig. 7 Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional View looking up from the bottom and showing the method of attaching the pivoted leg and the construction of the leg bracing means; and Fig. 8 is a section on line 8-8 of Fig. 7

The table consists essentially ofa' top with and provided with" foldable bracing means. Thetop comprises a bent wood rim or flange 10 having a rabbeted inner upper corner and a groove 11 extending entirely around said 30 flange on the upper'surface thereof. Re-

ceived in the rabbeted corner is a tap panel member 12, the upper surface of which is flush with the upper surfaceof the flange 10. Resting upon the panel 12 is a cushion 35 13 covering the table top and held in position by the flexible covering 14. The outer edges of the covering 14 extend into the groove 11 and hold said covering in tightly stretched relation across the table top by 40 reason of the wedging member 15 which is driven into the groove 11 and tightly frictionally holds the covering member. The flange 10 is provided adjacent each corner with a notch into which is received the end 45' of a cleat'. A pair of cleats 1 6 and 17 extend substantially parallel with each other in a directionsubstantially parallel with the diagonal of the table and are rigidlysecured tothehandle'12, as stated, and have; their ends 16 and 17 received in the notches in the four foldable legs pivotally attached thereto flange I0. The cleats 16 and 17 are of a thickness substantially equal to the thickness of the legs 18' and 19. Shoulder cleats 20 and 21 are provided which extend in a direction substantially parallel with the other diagonal of the table and terminate at: the cleats 1'6 and 17 respectively.v The cleats 205m 21 are of thickness in certain regions substantially equal to twice the thickness of thelegs 18 and 19, or to the thickness of these legs plus that of the legs 22 and 23.

The pair of legs 18 and 19, which are pivoted at the corners to liealongside each other between the cleats 16, and 17 are pivotally attached on pins 24 and 25 respectively, which make a slight angle with the diagonal of the table to permit the two legs to fold into the space between the said cleats without overlapping each other. A folding legbrace, hereinafter more fully described; is attached at 26 and 27 by pivot pins to the cheat 16 and the leg 18 respectively. In a similar mannernn identical folding brace is attached at 28 and 29 respectively to the cleat 17 and the leg 19. It

willbe seen from the foregoing-that the legs 18 and 19 fold between the cleats lfiand 17 their upper surfaces substantially even with the lowermost edges of the thickest portions of said cleatsgand that the legs 2 2 and 23 fold on top of the cleats 16 and 17 between the cleats 20 and 21. In order that the legs 22 and 23 may lie flat, the pivot pins 30 and 31 are positioned farther from the panel 12 than are the pins 24 and 251 Otherwise the construction and attachment of the legs 22 and 23 is substantially like that of the legs 18and 19. v

The folding brace which is employed for holding-the-legs both in folded and extend ed position comprises two arms 40 and 41 a pivot pin 42 by which they arepivotally secured together, and pins 43 and 44 whichsecure these arms pivotally to the cleats.

and table legs respectively. The arm 40 is provided at one end with an, openingthrough which the pin 44 extends and at the other end with a stop'means consisting of an opening 45 and an outwardlyextending handle member 46 which serves the function of allowing the arm to be grasped for releasing the stop means 45 from the concave head of the pin 43. The pin 44, as seen best in Fig. 6, is provided with a rounded head having a concavity 44 therein which receives the pin 43 to hold the same yieldably in position. The pin 43 has a convex head 43 which cooperates with the concavity 44 and with the stop means 45. As is clear from the drawing, it is essential that the distance between the opening in the member 40, which receives the pin 44 and the stop means 45, should be exactly twice the distance from the pin 42 to the stop means 45, and that the distance from the pin 42 to the opening in the arm 41, which receives the pin 43, is the same as the distance from said pin 42 to the stop means 45.

The means for attaching the table leg to the table top includes saw kerfs 50 and 51 formed horizontally in the bent wood frame or flange 10 and adapted to receive the pin 24, the pin 24 having flattened ends and drilled to receive nails 52, a kerf in the table leg 18 extending longitudinally thereof and receiving a strap 53 in which the pin 24 is j ournaled. The strap 53 comprises a flat piece of metal havingears 54 and 55 extending therefrom in opposite directions, and tongues 56 and 57 struck out and like wise extending in opposite directions, the tongue 56 extending in the direction opposite the ear 54, and the tongue 57 extending in a direction opposite the car 55, and rolled extensions 58 and 59 spot welded to pivotally connect the strap 53 to the pin 24. Washers 60 and 61 are provided between the flattened ends of the bar 24 and the curved portions 58 and 59 ofthe strap 53 whereby the same is held against longitudinal movement with respect to the pin 24. The strap53 is drilled to receive a nail or screw 62 for securing the same with respect to the leg 18.

It is a feature of this invention that the same flattening of the ends of the bar 24 which provides for their insertion in the kerfs 50 and 51 to prevent rotation with respect. to the frame 10, also serves as a means for preventing motion of the strap 53 longitudinally of the bar 24.

'It is another feature of this invention that the pin 43 cooperates with the con-' cavity 44 in the'pin 44 to hold the leg 18 in folded position, and with the stop means 45 to hold it in unfolded position.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that I have provided a construction well adapted for its intended purpose, and while I have illustrated and described the pre ferred embodiment, I wish it understood that my invention is not limited to the embodiment disclosed, but may be carried out in a number of variant forms, and that I am limited only in accordance with the appended claims and the requirements of the prior art.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A folding brace for a folding table leg including a strip having an opening near one end thereof and a stop means near the other end, a second strip pivoted to said first strip at a point halfway between said opening and said stop means, an opening in said second strip spaced from said pivot a distance equal to one-half the distance between said first opening and said stop means, a headed pin extending through said last opening for attachment to a table memher, and a headed pin'having a concavity in the head thereof extending through said first opening for attachment to a cooperating table member.

2. A folding brace for a folding table leg including a strip having an opening near one end thereof and a stop means near the other end, a second stri pivoted to said first strip at a point halfway between said opening and said stop means, an opening in said second strip spaced from said pivot a distance equal to one-half the dis tance between said first opening and said stop means, a headed pin extending through said last opening for attachment to a table member, a headed 'pin having a concavity'in the head thereof extending through said first opening for attachment to a cooperating table member, and a laterally extending finger piece on said first mentioned strip adjacent said stop means.

3. A folding table including a table top member, a leg member pivoted thereto, and a folding brace connecting said members, said brace including a strip having an opening near one end thereof and a stop means near the other end, a'second strip pivoted to said first strip at a point halfway between said opening and said stop means, an opening in said second strip spaced from said pivot a distance equal to one-half the distance between said'first opening and said stop means, a headed pin extending through said'l'ast opening for attachment to a table member, and aheaded pin having a con cavity in the head thereof extending through said first opening for attachment to a cooperating table member.

4. .In a folding table, a table top, a leg and means forpivotally connecting said leg to said table top, said means including a saw kerf in said leg, a strap received in said kerf, journals carried by said strap, and a pin rotatable in said journals, said pin being secured to saidtable top.

5. In a folding table, a tabletop, a leg and means for pivotally connecting said leg to said table top, said means including a saw kerf in said leg, a strap received in said kerf,

journals carried by said strap, and a pin rotatable in said journals, said pin being secured to said table top, said strap having ears engaging said leg.

6. In a folding table, a table top, a leg and means for pivotally connecting said leg to said table top, said means including a saw kerf in said leg, a strap received in said kerf, journals carried by said strap, and a pin rotatable in said journals, said pin being secured to said table top, said table top having a downwardly extending flange and saw kerfs therein receiving the ends of said pin.

7. In a folding table, a table top, a leg and means for pivotally connecting said leg to said table top, said means including a saw kerf in said leg, a strap received in said kerf, journals carried by said strap and a pin rotatable in said journals, said pin being secured to said table top, the ends of said pin bein flattened and having holes drilled theret rough and receiving nails for anchoring same with respect to said flange.

8. I11 a folding table, a table top, a leg and means for pivotally connecting said leg to said table top, said means including a saw kerf in said leg, a strap received in said kerf, journals carried by said strap, and a pin rotatable in said journals, said pin being secured to said table top, said table top having a downwardly extending flange and saw kerfs therein receiving the ends of said pin, the ends of said pin being flattened and having holes drilled therethrough and receiving nails for anchoring same with respect to said flange.

9. In a folding table, a table top, a leg and means for pivotally connecting said leg to said table top, said means including a saw kerf in said leg, a strap received in said kerf, journals carried by said strap, and a pin rotatable in said journals, said pin being secured to said table top, said journals being spaced apart a distance greater than the width of said leg at the end attached to said strap.

10. In a folding table, a table top, a leg and means for pivotally connecting said leg to said table top, saic means including a saw kerf in said leg, a strap received in said kerf, journals carried by said strap, and a pin rotatable in said journals, said pin being secured to said table top, said strap having ears engaging said leg, a plurality of said ears being struck out of said strap.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature.

CLETUS N. ALLERDING. 

